NICU
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides critical care to newborns who are ill or premature. Many factors may lead to a newborn being admitted to the NICU, including low birth weight or complications during delivery. The NICU staff works closely with parents to develop a treatment plan for their newborn.
NICU in Kingwood, Texas
It's normal to feel anxious if your baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Our team helps you get past these feelings so you can be there for your newborn.
A highly specialized nursery, the 24-bed NICU at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood is designed for newborns who require advanced care. Babies are moved to the NICU if they are born before 32 weeks, or are critically ill, and need specialized treatment and monitoring.
Kingwood neonatal care services
As parents, you are the most important healthcare team member when it comes to your baby's health. That's why our NICU team's primary goal is supporting you, as well as caring for your infant.
NICU care we provide
We offer both a Level II NICU (intermediate care) and a Level III NICU (intensive care). Both levels support your baby's growth and development in a safe, caring environment. As a designated Level III NICU, we provide a full range of respiratory support, offer minor surgical procedures, and have access to a full range of pediatric medical subspecialties.
Our team consists of healthcare professionals who are here to help your baby and support you. Our neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and specially-trained registered nurses monitor and care for each baby in the unit, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the case that your baby needs to be transferred to a higher Level IV NICU, HCA Houston AirLife provides neonatal transport to specialized facilities within our network with more advanced neonatal care.
While your child is in our care, we provide the following support and services:
- Breastfeeding support
- Family-centered unit
- Parental support
- Postpartum care and resources
- Neonatal transport team
- Skin-to-skin care and support
Our NICU is located in the south tower near the maternity unit, so you can visit your newborn easily while receiving care in our mother-baby unit. Infants are cared for in flat, open beds with a warmer or incubators. They can also be fed with your pumped breast milk or with formula through a feeding tube. We encourage you to visit as often as possible – to hold, touch, talk to and take care of your baby as their condition allows. The family-centered unit encourages skin-to-skin contact between baby and parents to bond and breastfeeding is strongly encouraged.
We also encourage you to ask as many questions as possible, and we will take the time to make sure you understand the answers. If you are considering delivering at HCA Houston Kingwood, we invite you learn more about our labor and delivery services or tour our Women's & Children's Center. In addition, we offer women's health services related to breast health and gynecology.